Car construction



Dec. 12, 1933. o. c. DURYEA CAR CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct, 27, 1930 /rramw,

Dec. 12, 1933. o. c. DURYEA CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 27, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 12, 1933. o. c. DURYEA CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 27, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. Vl?, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE C. Duryea Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Wilmington, Del.,

Application October 27, 19307. Serial No. 491,625

8 Claims. (C1. 2l3`8) This invention relates to car constructions, and more particularly to a car structure of the type embodying a continuous draft and Touring column or center member extending substantially the length ofV said car structure and mounted i'or movement relative thereto.

It has been proposed heretofore, as disclosed for example in the patent to Otho C. Duryea, No. 1,693,194, to provide a car construction or more 10V particularly a car underirame which embodies a. 'center me ber extending substantially the length of the car structure and movable relatively thereto, suitable cushion means being interposed between said center member and the car structure whereby said structure and its lading are cushioned against damage resulting from shocks or blows from draft and buiiing forces applied to said center member. In an underframe of this type, the couplers are mounted at the opposite ends of the center member, and suitable train slackmay be provided by mounting said couplers for limited movement relatively thereto or in any other suitable manner, the extent of said movement determining the train slack while energy absorption capacity is determined bythe cushion gear interposed between the center member and the car structure. In kthis wayv energy absorption capacity and train slack are separately controlled, each to provide the most' desirable operating conditions, without the necessity of compromise between them. In van underirame of this typejfthe center member is movable relatively to the body bolstersof the car structure and usually'passes through suitable openings in the bolster construction, .and the presenceof these openings and other provisions for movably mounting the center member necessitate special provisions in the bolster construction and more particularly in and around the 4,() center brace of the bolster in order to insure the necessary strength and rigidity to thecarstructure. y

One of the objects oi the present invention is to provide a car of the above type embodying novel bolster construction, and more particularly a novel center brace means, whereby Yloss ofv material due to openings in the bolster is compensated and a strong, rigid and durable structure provided.

Another object is to provide bolster construction in a car kkunderfrarne of the type described which embodies la novel center brace strengthened against vertical and horizontal forces.

A further object is to provide a, novel center brace means for use Aparticularly in car structures which is of greatstrength and rigidity.

The drawings illustrate a portion only of one end of a car underfraine of the above described type, provided with novel bolster construction and center brace means embodying the invention, the two ends oi the underirame being preferably thesame. It is toy be expressly understood, however, that the car construction shown is typical only of the general arrangement described above and that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose. o

In said drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical section of a portion of one end of a car structure embodying the invention; l Y l Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of a novel center brace 7- means as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, taken from the right-hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of said center brace means, the section being taken on line 4-4 and 44 of Fig. 6; l Y 80 Fig. 5 is an end view similar to Fig. 3 but taken Vfrom the left-hand end of Fig. 1,; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the center brace means. I Y Y Referring now to the drawings, the car body, including suitable floor structure 10, is supported at the holsters by suitable bolster` construction which as'shown includes top and `bottom cover plates 11 and 12 respectively whichextend from side to side of the car and are secured in any suitableV manner to the side sillsv thereof (not shown). Between the cover plates 1l and l2 are channel members or sills 13 which extend-longitudinally of the car and are secured in any suit-` able kInannerjas by rivets to saidV cover plates. Preferably vertical plates or webs 14 extend transversely of the car between the top and bottom cover plates from the sills 13 to the sides of the car, said plates 14 being flanged and having their flanges secured in any suitable manner as by rivets to said top and bottom plates and to thechannel members 13. Thetop and bottom cover plates 11 and 12, the channell members 13 and the vertical webs or plates 14 constitute a transversely extending body bolster structure having at the center of the car a substantially rectangularr openingk 15 (Fig. 2) defined by the channelmembers 13 and the top and bottom cover plates 1,1 and 12.

The longitudinally movable center member or draft and bufIing column is adapted to extend freely through the opening 15, and to strengthen the car structure novel center brace means is employed in said opening 15 which means is preferably connected rigidly as by means of rivets t0 the top and bottom cover plates and likewise to the channel members 13, said center brace means being shaped to leave openings for the passage of the center member. In the form shown, said center member comprises a pair of spaced channel members 16 rigidly secured together at suitable points by means of tie plates 1'7 preferably riveted to the flanges of said channels. Said channels 16 extend freelyand slidably through the opening 15 in the bolster and embrace be tween them and are guided by a portion of the center brace means as described more particularly hereinafter. Movement of the center meniber 16, 16 relative to the car body may beY cush ioned in any suitable manner, as by means of suitable cushion gears operatively interposed between said center member and the center brace means, one of the resilient elements of a typical cushion gear being shown at 18 in Fig. l. These cushion gears are of a type well known in the art and may in general be similar to those disclosed in the Duryea patent above referred to.

In the form shown in the drawings, the center brace comprises a single casting although it may be built up of a plurality of parts if desired. As clearly seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, said center brace has a lower vertically disposed portion of reduced lateral extent which is of less width than the opening 15, so that openings are left on either side of said vertically disposed portion between Ythe frame and the channels 13, the channels 16 passing through said openings. This lower vertically disposed portion comprises vertical longitudinal walls 19, a bottom wall 20, and one or more vertically disposed strengtheningwalls or webs 21. The walls 20 and '21 are joined integrally to form a central boss 23 which is centrally boredto provide an opening 24 for the recep tion of a king pin or the like. Preferably this portion of the center brace is likewise provided with laterally extending flanges 25 and with lugs 26 which constitute lower and upper guides re-` spectively for the channels 16 constituting the center member. Preferably this portion of the center brace is likewise provided at its inner end with suitable projections 27 to which the rod 28 (Fig. l) of the cushion gear is connected in any suitable manner, as by means of a pin29.

As clearly seen in Fig. 2, the vertical lower portion of the center brace and the channels 16 are substantially co-extensive in a vertical direction and have less vertical extent than the opening 15. The upper portion of the center brace, above the channels 16 and the lower vertical portion of the center brace, is preferably shaped to conform closely to the walls of the upper portion of opening 15 and is suitably secured as by means of rivets to the top cover plate 11 and preferably also to the channels 13. This upper portion of the centerl brace is likewise construct-V ed particularly to add strength and rigidity to the bolster construction and preferably comprises a plurality of spaced horizontal floor walls which Walls are integrally connected together by a, plurality of vertical strengthening webs. Accordingly the top wall 30 of the' lower vertically disposed portion of the centerl brace, together with horizontally and laterally extending webs 31 on both sides of the center brace, constitute a. substantially horizontal floor wall` preferably extending completely across the opening 15 immediately above the center sills 16, 16. Where the center brace is formed as a casting, the horizontal floor wall 30, 3l may conveniently be provided with suitable openings 32 to facilitate casting. Spaced vertically above the horizontal floor 30, 31 is a second horizontal floor wall 33 which likewise extends the entire width of the opening l5. The horizontal walls 30, 31 and 33 are integrally joined together by means of longitudinal and transverse webs or ribs 34, and preferably the outer longitudinal ribs 34 fit closely against the channels 13 while the upper horizontal wall 33 fits closely against the top cover plate l1. The center brace may also, if desired, be provided with depending side flange 35 likewise fitting closely against the channels 13. The upper floor 33, and the side wall constituted by webs 34 and flanges 35, are rigidly secured respectively to the top cover plate 1l and the channel members 13 in any suitable manner as by means of rivets.

The center brace may also, if desired, be provided at its outer end with projecting lugs or brackets 36 to 'which iioor supports B7 may be suitably secured as by rivets, said floor supports preferably extending outwardly to the end sill of the car (not shown) and also constituting torque arms.

The invention provides improved bolster cone struction for a car underframe of the type which embodies a center member movable through the bolster, whereby the desired strength and rigid ity of the car structure are obtained despite the special provisions necessary for the passage of the center member through the bolster. The novel center brace and the associated bolster construction are constructed so as to cooperate toward these ends due to provisions for rigidly associating a-nd connecting the parts together as described above, and' particularly the center brace is constructed to compensate for loss of material due to the opening through the bolster andto provide added strength and rigidity. To this end the novel construction of the center brace, which embodies spaced horizontal floor walls connected by a plurality of vertical webs or ribs, is an important feature of the invention.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of a variety of mechanical embodiments and that changes may be made in the form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a denition of-the'limits of the invention.

What is claimed isr' A' 1. In a car structure, a center brace member comprising a lower vertical portion having spaced side walls and provided with a king pin opening,

a horizontal floor wall above said vertical por-` tion, a second horizontal oor Wall above and vertically spaced from said rst named floor Wall, and a vertical web extending between said iloor walls, both of vsaid floor walls extending laterally beyond said side walls to form' a substantially Tshaped member.

' 2. In a car structure of the type described, a center brace comprising a lower vertical portion having spaced side walls, a horizontal licor wall above said vertical portion, a second horizontal floor wall above and spaced from said first floor wall, and a vertical web portion extending be tween said spaced horizontal walls, both of said floor walls extending laterally beyond said side walls to form a substantially T-shaped member.

3. In a car structure of the type described, a center brace substantially T-shaped in cross sec tion and comprising a lower vertical portion having spaced side walls and provided with a king pin opening, a horizontal floor wall above said vertical portion and extending laterally of said side walls, a second horizontal floor wall above and spaced from said rst floor wall and extending laterally of said side Walls, and vertical webs extending between said spaced horizontal walls, said spaced floor walls and vertical connecting webs forming a horizontal beam from which de pends said lower portion of less lateral extent.

4. In a car structure, bolster construction hav-l ing a central substantially rectangular opening therethrough, and center brace means positioned in said opening and secured tosaid bolster construction, said center brace means comprising a pair of spaced horizontal door walls extending substantially across said opening, a plurality of vertical strengthening Webs connecting said walls, and a remaining portion depending from said iloor walls and being of less lateral extent than said opening, said remaining portion having its outermost walls spaced from the sides of said opening.

5. In a car structure, bolster construction having a substantially rectangular opening therethrough, and center brace means vpositioned in said opening and secured tol said bolster construction, said center brace means comprising av pair of spaced horizontal iloor walls and vertical strengthening webs connecting said walls, said horizontal walls and Vertical webs forming a body shaped to conform with a portion of said opening and being secured to the side Walls thereof, and a remaining lower portion of less lateral extent than said opening and having its outermost lateral walls spaced from the side Walls of said f opening.

6.y In a car structure, bolster construction hav` ing a substantially rectangular opening therethrough, and center brace means positioned in rsaid opening and comprising a lower vertical portion of less vwidth than said opening, an upper horizontal portion constituted by spaced horizontal door walls connected by vertical strengthening webs, said upper portion extending laterally of said vertical portion and being secured to the top and side Walls of said opening, and anges depending from the ends of said uppeil portion and secured to said side walls, the center brace means thus formed being substantially T-shaped in cross section and providing an unobstructed opening on either side of its lower portion between the outermost lateral walls ythereof and the side Walls of said opening.

'7. In a car structure, a center brace member which is of less lateral extent at its lower part than at its upperpart and is provided with a king pin opening disposed substantially centrally in its lower part, said member having an upper strengthened part constituted by spaced horizontal floor walls extending laterally of said lower part and connected by vertical strengthening webs.

8. In a car structure, a center brace member which is of less lateral extent at its lower` part than at its upper part, the upper part extending laterally of said lower part and comprising spaced horizontal floor walls connected by vertical webs, and depending anges on the outer edges of said upper part.

OTHO C. DURYEA. 

